The Flemings Family

With the family making guesses as to the gender of Theresa and JohnMark’s baby, they headed to their 20-week ultrasound appointment on January 2nd. We all waited with bated breath to hear the news when a text came from JohnMark. Instead of learning the baby’s gender, they were told that their baby has “bilateral renal agenesis,” or BRA. This is a very rare condition where neither of the baby’s kidneys ever develop. This is considered a “life-limiting” (fatal) diagnosis. There is no possibility (barring a miracle) of a baby with BRA living beyond a short time after birth, if they make it to term at all. Needless to say, Theresa and JohnMark were devastated when they heard the news.

Faith, however, makes even something as painful as this a chance to see God at work. Immediately, Theresa and JohnMark told the doctors that they would not consider doing anything to end the pregnancy, but rather they would welcome their baby however and whenever God plans. As they started to share their news with family and friends, the prayers multiplied and they have been surrounded and lifted up by this network of love and support. Their witness to life and their acceptance of God’s will inspires us all and will touch many in ways we will never know.

In a subsequent ultrasound, Theresa and JohnMark were told that, while it is not certain, it looks like their baby is a girl. They have chosen to name her Lucy Caroline. She is alive, moving around, and bringing joy to Mom and Dad, even in the midst of their sorrow. Little Lucy (which means light) is already bringing light into the world!

We have great faith in God and in the power of prayer. That is the most important purpose of this GoFundMe…to ask you to join us in “funding” their “spiritual account” with your prayers. Theresa and JohnMark already feel the effects of the many prayers being offered for them daily. While they are at peace and accept God’s will, whatever it is, at the same time, they are unafraid to confidently beg Him for a miracle as His beloved children. God has the ability to create something from nothing, and we ask Him to create kidneys where currently none exist. We’re asking everyone to surround Theresa, JohnMark, and baby Lucy in prayer and join us in begging for a miracle.

Because Theresa and JohnMark have named their baby Lucy, we are specifically requesting a miracle through the intercession of Venerable Lucia (Lucy) dos Santos, one of the Fatima visionaries, who is up for canonization and needs a miracle attributed to her intercession. In this vein, we’d like to send Theresa and JohnMark on a pilgrimage to Fatima to pray and ask for a miracle at the site of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. This also needs to happen quickly as the window for travel is getting smaller each day. This will be a large expense and on a tight timeline but, by the grace of God, and the generosity of our family and friends, we believe we can make this possible for them.

In the midst of this difficult time, JohnMark is between jobs and they are living on Theresa’s Catholic school teacher’s salary. Savings are going fast, and there will be many expenses in the coming months. They will have medical bills, bills for the various specialists who will help them through the pregnancy, birth, and beyond, as well as funeral expenses. They have no family and few friends in the area and so our ability to support them in person as they wait for Baby Lucy’s arrival is limited. There’s little we can do for them to make this easier, but helping them with these details can allow space for them to focus on God and each other and to grieve their loss.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, for your continued prayers for the Flemings family, and for your prayerful consideration of assisting them in their financial needs. If you know anyone who would be willing to pray for Theresa, JohnMark, and Baby Lucy, please pass this on! God bless you all!